ODDFELLOWSHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 3472, 9 April 1874, Page 3

ODDFELLOWSHIP.

At the half-yearly meeting of the Otago district of the M.TJ.1.0.0.F., last evening (P.G.M. Palmer in the chair), the proceedings of the year 1873 were reviewed by the P.G.M., from whose address we make the following extract The total number of members in the 21 lodges forming the Otago District of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was, on the Ist January, 1874, 1,338. There were admitted during the year 1873, by initiation, 190 new members, at the average age of 27 years 21 weeks. . The admissions by clearance numbered 23. The total received for admission was L 368 15s. Total income, L 5.498 Bs. . Total expenditure, L 3.976 Os 4d, being a saving on the year a transactions of L 1,522 7a BcL Of the income, L 785 13s 2d was received in the shape of interest. The sum of L 930 19s 6d was paid for sick allowances, funeral payments, and levies to District Funeral Fund ; of this latter sum, L 665 6s 8d was paid in sick allowances, being an average of 10s per member; for medical attendance and medicine, L1,51514s 3d was paid. Glancing for a moment at the state of the accounts in reference to the amount borrowed from the Sick and Funeral Funds for management expenses, I may state that 11 Lodges have decreased the total indebtedness by the sum of L16315s 5s ; while 4 Lodges have, amongst them, borrowed, during 1873, the sum of LB4 19a sd; 5 re*maining Lodges have a balance to the credit of their Incidental Fund. The total value of the Lodge Funds may be set down in round numbers at L12.5C0, to which the Lodges affix a further asset, valued at L2OB, for stock in hand. The deaths during 1873 were—s members and 10 wives of members —the expenditure from the District Funeral Fund under this heading being L2OO. The annual fete held on Boxing Day was a complete success. The committee have placed L 66 to the credit of the District Relief Fund, and handed to the Benevolent Institute a donation of LlO. It has long been a dread that the Society would be unable to obtain the use of the ground on which to hold their fete in aid of charitable purposes, and as you are aware steps have been taken *o t.y and secure ground tor this purpose, P.P.G.M. Geddes was the first to take active measure to attain the desired end and has been unwearied in his efforts in this direction. A circular letter, signed by the chief officers of the various societies willing to take a part in the matter, was sent to , each member of the Provincial Council,

During the last sitting, it was found that the Executive Government and the members of the Provincial Council were in favor of aiding the societies to obtain the desired end ; and his Honor the Superintendent has exerted himself greatly to forward our views. A number of sections of land have been pointed out, but it is only very lately that a piece answering our requirements is at the disposal of the Government; and we are now offered five acres of land, which the Government hold on a Uease of tweuty-one years. This land has been examined by delegates appointed at a meeting by the chief officers of the various friendly societies. There have been several meetings of the officers, and they reported favorably, so that we may hope to see this business brought to a satisfactory conclusion. J

The nominations for district officers, to take place in October next, were then made. A large number of brothers were nominated for the various offices. The district and purple lectures were appointed be held, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, on the last Wednesday in July next, at 7.30 p.m. It was resolved that the appointment of a District Arbitration Committee stand over until the October meeting j also,, that after the payment of 4 per cent interest to the sick and funeral fund of lodges, they be allowed to appropriate the balance of interest to the Management Expenses Fund. The value of the District Relief Fund was stated to be L 270 10s 6d. A great amount of formal business was transacted, and. P.P.G.M. Geddes was appointed a trustee to act in conjunction with the friendly societies in the matter of a “Friendly Societies’ Gardens.”